Resources on Racism
Today, we are being called to confront the sin of systemic racism in our world.
It can be hard to know where to begin.
Here are some suggestions for ways
to PRAY,
to LEARN and LISTEN,
and to CHALLENGE our assumptions
as we embark on the hard work of justice.
BECOMING ANTI-RACIST
This chart is for reflection and prayer as we consider our attitudes concerning racism in our culture, society and most importantly in our own spirit as a Christian. We use it with the permission of the New Ground Creations https://www.newgroundcreations.com/, a youth/young adult organization located in the United Kingdom.
PRAY
Prayer Service for Racial Healing (includes an Examination of Conscience for racial justice)
Saint Stories:
Saint Josephine Bakhita:
Saint Martin de Porres:
Saint Peter Claver:
LEARN and LISTEN
Resources For Children and Families:
Conversation Starter on Racism and the Dignity of the Human Person (from Our Sunday Visitor):
https://drive.google.com/file/d/15gNKE-W5mUPp40ht5LForvcSv1YzmNJS/view
https://store.loyolapress.com/everyone-belongs
Book for kids: Everyone Belongs
https://store.loyolapress.com/everyone-belongs
CNN Sesame Street Town Hall on Explaining Racism to Kids:
Article: How White Parents Can Talk to Their Kids About Race
https://www.npr.org/2020/06/03/869071246/how-white-parents-can-talk-to-their-kids-about-race
Resources For Teens:
Taking Steps Toward Anti-Racism:
https://lifeteen.com/blog/taking-steps-toward-anti-racism/
Understanding Privilege:
Read the Young Adult adaptation of Bryan Stevenson’s Just Mercy (and watch the movie!)
Watch/Read/Discuss: Just Mercy
Based on the bestselling book by Bryan Stevenson, the film Just Mercy presents the stunning and true story of Walter McMillian, a Black man convicted and sentenced to death in Alabama in 1988 for a crime he did not commit. The film illustrates the structural racism endemic to our capital punishment system, and lays bare how this system devalues and cheapens all human life.
Just Mercy, PG13, streaming free through June 2020 on Amazon Prime, Apple TV and other streaming services
Online Discussion Guide:
https://catholicsmobilizing.org/just-mercy-catholic-study-guide
Catholic News Service Movie Review:
https://www.catholicnews.com/services/englishnews/2019/just-mercy.cfm
Read the Book Just Mercy by Bryan Stevenson
From Father Bryan Massingale, Professor of Moral Theology at Fordham University:
The Assumptions of White Privilege and What We Can Do About It
from National Catholic Reporter
https://www.ncronline.org/news/opinion/assumptions-white-privilege-and-what-we-can-do-about-it
Read his book Racial Justice and the Catholic Church
Watch America Magazine’s Interview
More Catholic Reflections on Racism:
US Bishops’ Letter Against Racism, Open Wide Our Hearts:
http://www.usccb.org/issues-and-action/human-life-and-dignity/racism/upload/open-wide-our-hearts.pdf
When Protest Becomes Prayer, from America Magazine
https://www.americamagazine.org/faith/2020/06/05/protest-prayer-catholic-george-floyd-racism
To Fight Racism, Catholics Must Hunger for Justice Like We Do For the Eucharist, from America Magazine
CHALLENGE
Educate Yourself About Black History:
Explore the 1619 Project from the New York Times:
Four hundred years after enslaved Africans were first brought to Virginia, many Americans still don’t know the full story of slavery, or understand the many ways its legacy continues to shape society in the United States. The 1619 Project is a major initiative from The New York Times to correct the record, reframing the country’s history by placing the consequences of slavery and the contributions of black Americans at the center of the national narrative.
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/01/23/podcasts/1619-podcast.html
Take the Implicit Association Test:
https://implicit.harvard.edu/implicit/takeatest.html
The IAT measures the strength of unconscious associations between a group of people, such as white people, black people, and Muslims, and value words, such as good or bad. Your response is faster and easier when a strong unconscious association exists between the social group and the value word. This may seem like an odd test, but in order to test for implicit bias, a person must respond instinctively rather than thoughtfully.
Follow the Project Implicit directions to try the “Race IAT.”